Device for splitting figs



E. 'E.YGEESE.

DEVICE FOR SPLITTING FIGS.v

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. 1920.

ATTORNEYS. 'J'

E. E. GEESE.

DEVICE FOI-v SPLITTING FIGS.

' APPLlcAloN man MAR. 1, 1920.

Patented May 10, 1921.

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INVENTOR. ZAM g @Y /W JM WA TToRNEYs E. E. GEESE.

DEVICE'FOR SPLITTING FIGS. APPLxcATIoN FILED MAR.1.1920.

Patented May 10, 1921.

INENTOR.

E. E. GEESE.

DEVICE FOR-SPLITTING FIGS. 'APPLxcATloN FILE'DMAR-1. 1920.

m37/@828m Paten-mamy 10,1921,l

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ll Il W INVENTOR,V

, ATTORNEYS, J

DEVICE FOR SPLITTNG FIGS.

Specification or" Letters Patent.

Patent-ed May 10, 1921.

Application led March 1, 5.926. Serial No. 362,352.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, FLMER E. Gnnsn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of'Fresno, in the county of Fresno and the tate of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Splitting Figs, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a device for splitting figs. To those familiar with the art of grading and packing figs it is wellV known that if a iig is soured, or has smut growing therein, such defects in that fruit can be more readily perceived if the fig is split open and the inside of the fig exposed, and further, that in the packing of figs they make a better appearance when they are split open, spread and pressed flat. Heretofore in the iig packing industry the figs have been cut Vby hand for this purpose, which at best is an expensive and unsanitary method inasmuch as each fig is individually handled just before depositing it in the carton or box. lThe object of my invention is to produce a machine by which the figs can be laid in rows and drawn up to a. knife and uniformly cut in a uniform position on the iig and the eut opened so that the inside of the fig can be inspected without such figs being handled by the human hands after they are deposited in the hopper adapted to feed my machine.

l accomplish these and other objects which will hereinafter appear by means of f the device described in the specifications hereinafter set forth, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an isometric'view of the machine from the left side. Fig. 2 is an independent view of a block cam adapted to trip and disengage the latch pawl. Fig. 3 is an independent view of a cam adapted to close and lock the latch pawl for the clamping device. Fig. 4 is a top view of a fragment of thecarrier belt or draper. Fig. 5 is a side view of a latch pawl locking device. Fig. 6 is a view of a fragment of a clamping device, partly in section, showing the clamp open. Fig. 7 shows the same view as Fig. 6 with thefclamp closed. Fig. 8 is a view of fragments of twof links used in forming and stiffening the draper. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of the machine through the line ae--m showing a plurality of knives or cutters, a spreading device, and knife cleaner. Fig. 10 is a top sectional view of an adjustable shaft bearing. Fig. 11 shows a combination knife cleaner and fruit opener. Fig. 12 is a side view of the knife cleaner and fruit opener. Fig. 13 is a similar view of the machine to Fig. 1 except from the opposite side. Fig. 14 is a side view of a miter gear drive showing shaft of varying lengths for driving portions of the machinery. Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view of the shaft along the line y--g/ on- F ig. 14.

Fig. 16 shows the operative relation of a cam and a block hereinafter more definitely described.

ln said drawings B is the main frame belt or draper, a detailed explanation of j which will hereinafter appear, which is carried upon drums D and D1, and which is actuated by drum D. Draper E consists of a plurality of uniform size cross sections F `which are hinged together so they form an endless belt. Fach section F has a link 6, which link has a female portion of a hinge 6b, and a male portion 6a. These links are joined to a corresponding link on the sections next adjoining, so that the chain or belt formed thereby canhave a movement of the links relative to each other in line with the draper, but they form an approxi mately rigid connection as to cross sectional movements.

16 and 16LL are ordinary links of the same length as link 6 pivoted at the ends to similar links and forming the outside edge of draper E. hole through the approximate centers of links 6, 16 and 16a. 7 and la are rigid ties extending transversely across the draper and connecting links 16 and 16a. One of said rods 7 and 7a should be on each side of rod 6. 26 area plurality of rods which extend from one side of the draper to the other, passing through the ends of links 6, 16 and 16L forming hingepivots between such links and the next adjacent links.

9 and 9LL are a plurality of clamp jaws arranged in pairs. The upper portion ofthese jaws are beveled so that together they form a V near the top, and just below the beveled portions the planes of 'the approaching sides 8 is a rod slidingly fitted in a i 19 and 19a are parallel. J aw 9 is attached rigidly to rod 8 by means of a pin 12 shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Other suitable means may be substituted. Jaws 9L are adapted to slide on ties 7 and 7a, and are attached .rigidly to rod 8. Jaws 9 arev slidably fitted in holes through rod 8 and are rigidly fastened to ties 7 and 7a. In the device I have constructed there shouldbe a plurality of jaws 9 and 9a' arranged in pairs on each section of the draper, set so the jaws will extend lengthwise with the draper, and they should be spaced so that when the rod 8 ismoved laterally the clamp formed by jaws 9 and 9LL will uniformly close and open.

II is a hopper adapted'to deposit the figs placed therein on the top ofthe draper. Directly in front of the hopper there is rotatingly journaled arotary brush K whichv extends transversely across the draper. The bristles of the brush lightly touch the top of the draper and the brush rotates in the opposite direction to the travel of the draper. rIlhe purpose of brush K is to distribute the figs on the draper in the openings between the jaws 9 and 9a, and in cases where there are deposited more figs than is necessaryfor the purposes set forth the brush will move them back on the draper allowing only enough to pass sufficient to lay in a single row the depth of the thickness of one lig. 14

Iare a plurality of circular knives attached to shaft 13 adapted to rotate, are spaced on the shaft so they will pass in line with jaws 9 and 9a and midway between them, the object being that as the figs lined on the draper between the jaws 9 and 9iL pass under the knives they are split at a predetermined depth. In order that theiigs may be rigidly held as they pass under the knives I have constructed a device for moving the jaws` together, locking them and releasing them as follows:

Rod 8 has an extension 82L to which a lever 20 is pivoted between the ends. 7b is an extension of tie 7a and is a fulcrum for lever 20. The end of lever 2O opposite the fulcrum is fitted with a roller 20a. '15 is a cam attached vto frame B in line with the travel j of roller 20n and is adapted to press the roller toward the draper and necessarily move each jaw attached thereto toward the other jaw of the same pair of jaws, clamping any object whichmay be between them. rIhc cam 15 is placed in a position so that the jaws 9` and 9L clamp on the line of travel between brush K and knives 14. For the operate in pairs.

jaws 9 and 92L adjacent to each other. On the top of link 6 ,I have placed a fulcrum 17, and have provided a lever 18. Lever 18 is pivoted at one end to latch 10, at the approximate center to fulcrum 17, and I have provided a. spring 171L which normally holds j the lever 18 in a position so that the latch tween link 16 and lever 20, rod 8 is moved so that the jaws 9 and 9'L1 open or separate. Itis noted that in my arrangement the cam guide is placed at a point of travel on cam rod so that it will not open until it has passed the knives.

For the purpose of adjusting the'height:

of the knives 14 from the figs I have journaled shaft 13 in bearings 13a and 13b which are carried on the ends of rods 28a and 28h, these rods being attached at the'top to a cross tie 28, having a screw threaded'hole V 24'U1 therethrough. 31 is a cross bar having depending posts 31ZL and 31b spaced apart the same distance as rods 28a and 28h are apart. In posts 315L and 31b I have formed slidevways 25EL and 25b to receive the bearing boxes 132L and 13b, these slides being arranged so that said bearing boxes havea vertical adjustment. Pests 31a and 31b terminate at the end with rollers 34:L and 341. The frame composed of cross pieces 31 and posts 31aand 31b is fitted in vertical grooves 33a and 33b in the frame B directly above the draper. The width of the draper is predetermined so that the links 16 and 16a form a track for rollers 34a and 341, and the weight of the knives and mechanism described will keep the knives at a fixed distance from the draper moving it up and down synchronouslyV with similar movements of the draper. tance the knives are from the draper is made by means of a screw 24, operable in threaded hole 24a in cross tie 28. 24? is al socket in cross piece 31 directly in line with screw 24, arranged to hold the end of the screw 4in-a fixed relation to cross piece 31, so that by moving screw 24 downward shaft 13 will be lowered, and by moving the screw upward the knives will be raised. ySimilar mechanism is used for adjusting and raising and lowering brush K on shaft 13.

30 is a rod attached to frame B set parallel with shaft 13 and directly tothe rear of cutters 14. To rod 30 I have attached a A further adjustment of the displurality of spreaders 51 and 51a which f one of said spre'aders is on each side of each of the knives at its lower portion. The

They are arranged so that purposes of the spreaders are twofold, one being to keep the knives clean by scraping them, for which purpose the spreader should bear against the face of the knives, and the second object being to spread the figs apart. rlhis latter object is accomplished by adjusting the spreader-s so that the outline of each pair is a V with the apex at the cutting portion of the knife so they engage the iigs in the opening as they pass from the knives 14. After the figs are thus spread apart they can be readily examined and assorted.

M is a cylindrical brush, having an axis M1 set parallel with shaft 4. This brush is adjusted so that it will readily clean draper E and is preferably on the under side of the machine. The links forming the draper are approximately eight inches long, and the periphery of the drums D and D1 are provided with projections 32 which are adapted to engage the pivot rods 26 in the-draper, thus giving the draper a positive movement with said drums. This form of draper and drums will give the top surface of the draper a slight up and down movement as the drape-r moves with the rotation of the drums. As the knives 14 and brush K should maintain a constant fixed relation with the draper surface passing directly under. them, l have compensated for this variation in the draper by the mechanism hereinbefore described.

34 is a pulley attached to drum D1, 34a is the main belt operating pulley 34. By means of draper E drum D is rotated. 35 is a pulley attached to drum D. 36 is a pulley on brush M. 36a is a belt connecting pulley 36 with pulley 35. Pulley 35 has a beveled gear 37 attached thereto adapted to drive a pinion 39. 40 and 41 are telescoping, sliding interlocking shafts connectingpinions 39 and 39a. 41a is a slot in shaft 41, and 402L is a pin extending through shaft 40 and in slot 41u, the object being to permit shaft 40 to slide within shaft 41 and at all times to be lrigid as to torsion movements. 43 is a pulley on shaft 13 carrying brush K and 43a is a belt extending from pulley 38 to pulley 43. It will be observed that drum D1 is driven by the main belt, 34a which drives draper E and drum D. Drum D drives brush M, and brush K and the pulley on the shaft carrying brush K drives knives 14. rlhe object in connecting` pinions 39 and 391l with a sliding shaft is to keep pinions 39 and 39a enmeshed with beveled gears 37 and 38 at all times even though the distance between beveled gears 37 and 38 varies. To do this more effectively shafts 13 and 13a rotate in bearings 44 and 44a, and shafts 40 and 41 rotate in bearings 45 and 45a. Bearings 44 and 45 are connected rigidly by a tie 46, and bearings 44a and 45i1 are connected with a tie 46a. S is a shield orv housing.

l claim as new and ask for Letters Patent: 1. ln a device of the character described the combination of a draper constructed the jaws in line with the jaws on the next adjacent section, means for closing all the clamps on each cross section independently of the clamps on the other sections and keeping them closed while the draper is passing a predetermined space in its line of travel, a hopper having an opening directly above the draper on a space where the clamps are open, a rotary brush extending across the draper on the upper surface thereof between the hopper and the spaced portion of the line of travel where the clamps are closed, said brush being adapted to remove loose articles extending above the jaws of the clamps, a plurality of knives adapted to pass at a fixed distance from the draper and alined with the center line of the clamps, substantially as described.

2. ln a device for holding and cutting figs, the combination of a draper adapted to move laterally, a plurality of independent clamps on the outside surface of the draper, consisting of duplicate jaws, one jaw of such clamp being stationary relative to the draper and the other being attached to a rod slidably disposed transversely across the draper, means for normally holding the clamps open, means for closing said clamps and holding them closed while the clamps on the draper are passing a fixed space in the line of travel of the draper, and a plurality of knives held directly over the draper in said fixed space in line with the center line of the clamps and at a fixed space above them, substantially as described.

3. ln a device for splitting and opening figs the combination of an endless draper composed of a plurality of similar cross sections, each of the cross sections containing a plurality of clamps the jaws of which extend upward and the uppermost opening between them forming a V, automatic means for moving the jaws of each clamp closer together at a predetermined oint of travel and thereafter automatical y opening them, rotary knives disposed so the plane of the knives register with the line between the jaws of the clamps, fruit spreaders consisting of blades, one of which is on each side of each rotary knife, one end of each blade being disposed to drag on the face of the knife adj acent to its lowest point of travel, and to spread apart as it recedes from said knife, substantially as described.

4. ln a device of the character described the combination of a draper constructed with a plurality of similar cross sections each cross section containing a plurality of pairs of clamp jaws which are normally open and are adapted to close and remain closed while the draper is'passing'a predetermined krspace in its line of travel, rneans `for placing figs in single rows between such Jaws while the;

jaws are apart, "a plurality of knives arranged so that the edge of a bladey of a knife will come in contact with each row of figs as they pass the knives, and wedge means disposed to enter and part the cut portions of the ligs as the draper carries them beyondthe knives, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a draper having a pluralmeans and to close by aA cam operated atl fixed points on the line of travel ofthe belt,

rotary knives adapted to travel between the jawsof said clamps as the draper passes beneath the knives, substantially as described.

' ELMER E. GEESE.

Vitnesses Y i CLEO K. CURTIS, JAMES G. HUEBNER. 

